The Western Cape Government (WCG) says it needs more funding in light of rapid population growth in the province.
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Christopher Fry, the province’s spokesperson on premier and constitutional matters for the Democratic Alliance (DA), says the latest Census data supports the need for more funding. ‘National Treasury calculates its budget allocations to the provinces using population figures that have long been out of date, and the Western Cape’s exceptional population growth has long resulted in it being shortchanged in the provincial equitable share formula.
‘With a fair and equitable allocation of funding based on up-to-date Census data, the Western Cape government will be able to further enhance the exceptional standard of service delivery, economic growth, and job creation that have drawn millions here.’
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Premier Alan Winde used his weekly energy Digicon to highlight the population growth and its impact on the province’s budget on Thursday. As per News24, the Census indicates that the population grew to 27% (7.4 million people).
Winde expects an increase to about eight million people by 2023. ‘This obviously has a massive impact on budgetary. It has an impact on providing services, and these numbers now enable us to rework where we are in our financial position.’
According to the Provincial Economic Review and Outlook (PERO) report, the Western Cape’s rapid population growth was driven largely by net migration as people from other regions and countries seek better opportunities and living conditions.
The report also revealed a decline in fertility rates and an increase in the number of elderly individuals, ‘highlighting shifting population dynamics that have direct service delivery implications for health, education, social protection, and municipal services’.
It is also suggested that the provincial population is expected to reach 10 million by 2040. This represents an increase of an additional 2.7 million people between 2023 and 2040 – about 123 000 more people each year.
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Picture: Leo Moko / Unsplash
